Does it not occur to you gentlemen that we, as officers of
the Army, are not only members of the oldest of honorable professions,
but are also the modern representatives of the demigods and heroes
of antiquity?

Back of us stretches a line of men whose acts of valor, of
self sacrifice, and of service have been the theme of song and
story since long before recorded history began. Our professional
ancestors were sung of by the blind poet Homer a thousand years
before Christ. The exploits of these ancestors were chanted by
him and other exploits of like nature were handed down by word
of mouth or in everlasting marble to the time when they might
be recorded in writing for the eternal inspiration of the race.

In the days of chivalry, the golden age of our profession,
knights(officers) were noted as well for courtesy and being gentle
benefactors of the weak and oppressed. From their acts of courtesy
and benevolence was derived the word, now pronounced as one, "gentle
man." We, too, are officers and gentlemen. Let us strive
to live up to the high ideals of our military forbears. Let us
be gentle. That is courteous and considerate for the rights of
others. Let us be men. That is fearless and untiring in doing
our duty as we see it.

In calling this matter to your attention I am not actuated
by a spirit of criticism; so far as I know you are all officers
and gentlemen. I simply desire to make articulate our obligations
and duties in the above connection as they appear to me.

As I have pointed out, our calling is most ancient and like
all other old things it has amassed through the ages certain customs
and traditions which decorate and ennoble it; which render beautiful
the otherwise prosaic occupation of being professional men-at-arms;
Killers.

For ease of remembering them, these traditions may be subdivided
into two parts. By dissecting the qualifying word "gentleman"
which is ever associated with the word "officer."

Under the first half of the word "gentle" are collected
a number of usages generally called "social customs of the
service." These have to do with our social relations with
our brother officers and also with our civilian friends. Some
of the common and most frequently neglected are the following.

Calls: Officers arriving at a new post should call within
twenty four hours on the commanding officer. In doing this they
should consult the adjutant and call on him either in his office
or at his quarters as the adjutant advises. They should also call
on their Regimental, Battalion, and Company Commanders. If the
latter have families living on the post, the officers should call
socially on them in the evening and if he is married should bring
his wife with him when calling on officers also married.

All officers should call on newly arrived officers as soon
as convenient.

Officers receiving calls should return them within one week.
Officers who have been invited to dinners, receptions, or card
parties should call on the officer so inviting them; whether they
accept the invitation or not.

All officers of a battalion should call in a body on the Commanding
Officer of the regiment and of the post on New Year's Day.

Invitations: Officers should answer invitations promptly
and state definitely whether they will accept or not. In answering
invitations, they should use the same "person" as that
in which the invitation is written.

Messes: Officers should behave in as polite a manner
at mess as they would if dining at home with the ladies of their
family. They should not tell smutty stories, or swear, or pick
their teeth. Above all, it is the height of bad manners to refer
to any lady by name at mess. They should go to some trouble and
reasonable expense to make the mess table and mess room neat and
attractive. The neglect of this is a great fault in our service
and lays us open to constant criticism by foreign officers and
by civilians in our own country.

Quarters: Officers should live in a neat way. Their
rooms should be attractive and not look like the cells in an insane
asylum. By the purchase of a chair or two, a couple of pictures
or prints, a rug and some pretty covering for their beds they
can for a few dollars vastly improve the appearance of even the
worst quarters. The assembly room in the quarters here should
be fixed up far better than is at present the case; a slight subscript
on the part of all would make this easy. Officers should no more
come into such a room half clad and untidy than they should enter
a civilian club in the same costume. Attention to the above details
will add greatly to the comfort and self respect of all.

Gossip: Gentlemen do not gossip. It never does any good
and is unfair. Many men who would never think of hitting a man
from behind will nevertheless strike a deadly blow at his character
from behind his back. This is not usually the result of vice,
but simply through a desire to tell a good story. It is the lowest
form of sin no matter what cause prompts it.

Growling and Criticism: The man who always whines about
what he has to do usually is incapable of doing anything. The
man who criticizes his superior in the presence of soldiers or
junior officers is disloyal to his oath as an officer and is doing
more than a Bolshevik to destroy discipline.

Drinking: The "old army" had many vices, but
among it's virtues there is not one more worthy to be copied than
the custom of never taking a drink when on duty, or when about
to enter any duty. Officers of different grades should not drink
in company. There is nothing like drink to produce familiarity.
Familiarity breeds contempt. Do not drink at all or if you do,
do it among your equals in rank.

Money Matters: Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the
sacred nature of Government Money. Regard as inviolate the physical
money. If you have to carry pay for a man, or company, or other
funds, keep it in a sealed envelope in a separate pocket. Never
use it with the idea of replacing it "as soon as you cash
a check." That is the direct road to a General Courts Martial.

Do not contract debts. If you must borrow money go to
a bank; that is the bank's business and it will see that you pay.
If by any change you have borrowed money from an officer, don't
forget all about it. He won't. To go on leave or to spend money
unnecessarily in any other way while you are in debt to a friend
is another sin. Pay cash and you will keep out of debt. Nearly
all General Courts Martials come from fooling with credit and
government money.

Military Courtesy: It is as necessary that officers
salute each other as it is that soldiers salute them; or that
they return the salute of soldiers. Never salute with the hands
in the pocket, or with a pipe in the mouth, or as is a habit,
with a toothpick in the mouth. Toothpicks, like toothbrushes,
are for private use. To sport one in the mouth in public smacks
very much of the idea that the officer so doing is proud of being
able to have bought a meal.

If a superior enters a room where you are, offer him a chair.
He will not accept it, but the act is one of courtesy showing
respect for his rank. When talking to a superior no matter how
friendly you are with him, stand at attention. And when you leave,
salute. Also require the same of soldiers who are talking to you.
Such acts show that you are a soldier, not simply a uniformed
person.

Promptness: This is always referred to as a military
virtue. But, like the buffalo, it appears to be heading toward
extinction. Cultivate it; it will get you ahead in peace and may
save your life or the lives of your men in war.

Example: Follow the "Golden Rule." Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you. Good Knights were an
example to all time. So it is with a good officer. You have no
idea how men watch you. If you stand up, so will they. If you
curse, so will they. If you are habitually late, how can you in
honor try men for following your example? You are a model, whether
you like it or not, hence; be a good model.

Dress: You are paid to dress well at all times. This
does not necessitate expense out of reason. The clothes brush,
a little cleaning fluid, and the flat iron will make any uniform
look good. The brush and polish will do the same for the boots
and leggings. No one respects a tramp and soldiers will not respect
a dirty officer. The rougher the work, especially in the field,
the more inspiring to the men is the sight of a clean, well shaven
officer.

Education: The British and American services at one
time had an unenviable reputation in the realm of military information.
This has been corrected of late but there is still room for improvement.
Do you imagine that the successful broker spends his evenings
studying the progress of the National League? Hardly. He studies
the market. The man who only works during working hours is apt
to keep right on at the same job or get a worse one. Few are born
Napoleons, but any of us can be good company commanders if we
study. When we are that, try for the battalion and so on; ultimately
for four stars. Hence, read military history and books on tactics.
I am making out a list of such which I will give to you and some
of which we will study together. But I earnestly advise you all
to read military subjects three and a half hours a week. How little
that is; and the lack of the knowledge may cause the death of
your men and the defeat of your outfit.

Don'ts: I will close this lecture with a few "don'ts"
from Colonel J. A. Mosse's book, Officers Manual, which I recommend
to all of you to read.

Don't tell what a "Heller" you are. Let people find
it out.

Don't pretend to know too much or too little. A prig or a fool
are alike unpopular.

Don't tell people what you paid for things and don't ask what
they paid. It is not according to our customs as officers.

Don't speak ill of any man. If there is nothing good to say
of him, keep still.

Don't just sit and think, or just sit. There is always something
to do. For example, read about war.

Don't try to gain success by "pull" or accuse others
of doing so. The man with the alleged pull usually has the goods,
too.

So far as I know, the above remarks do not apply to anyone
here, but we are none of us perfect. If the coat fits, put it
on and try to correct the situation.